Animal Crossing: New Horizons players can customise their character’s look, regardless of gender

Face value

 Animal Crossing: New Horizons players may choose from all options for hair and facial features from the get go, regardless of gender or progression in the game (via Hardcore Gamer).

As shown, players will be able to select their skintone, hair cut and colour, eye shape, nose shape, mouth shape, and blush when the game begins. This is for their passport photo before the player gets on their flight to the deserted island, but it’s an exceptional expansion on the customisation systems of past games. Originally, players would answer questions that then permanently determined their facial features, and male characters would get different facial features to female characters. In addition, hair styles were locked to gender in Wild World, and New Leaf let the player choose from male and female hair styles once they’d gotten all the styles in their category. 

Most strikingly of all, a few of the games defaulted to a white character for the player, and their skin would only (temporarily) tan if the player put their character in the sun for long periods. Happy Home Designer and Pocket Camp offered character customisation from the outset, but New Horizons has notably shown options that are customisable for any gender. Moreover, their look is changeable through a mirror item, so the choices are no longer permanent—another significant difference for the series. Nook Miles will reveal new hair styles and colours as the player accumulates achievements, and will assumedly be added to the mirror menu, so that players aren’t shelling out time and time again on a makeover.
Last week’s Nintendo Direct dived into the new game, and showcased its multiplayer modes, mystery islands, seasonal events, terraforming, and Mr Resetti’s new job.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons launches for the Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2020.